google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner

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Jun 10, 2020

Wednesday, June 10, 2020 Joe Schewe

Theme: Making the whiskey weak. Let's start with the two-part unifier so we'll know what to look for.

31 D. With the answer below, dilute ... and a hint to the four longest answers: WATER.
59 D. See the answer above: DOWN.
This is, literally, how to dilute.

3 D. Mellophone's orchestral cousin: FRENCH HORN.  Can you tell which is which?  Similarly pitched, I guess.  Not my brass niche, so that's all I have to say.



9 D. Inn for traveling students: YOUTH HOSTEL. A type of short-term low cost accommodation aimed at young people on hiking or bicycling tours.

25 D. Not being forthcoming about: WITH HOLDING. As with information.

33 D. Home on the range: RANCH HOUSE.  The home located on a ranch property - a large area dedicated to raising livestock.

Each of these contains the letters H HO spanning the two word theme fill. HHO = H2O = WATER, in a vertical answer, hence WATER DOWN.  The chemist in me would prefer HOH, but that is just a wet nit.

Hi Gang.  JazzBumpa here.  This theme of hidden chemical symbolism threw me for a while.  Don't feel bad if you couldn't find it.  Now that we can hold our water, let's move forward.

Across:

1. Tip politely: DOFF. As one's hat.

5. Friendship: AMITY. A friendly relationship.

10. Approved: OKED. Gave the OK to.

14. Taj Mahal locale: AGRA.  City in India.

15. Longtime work animal: BURRO. A small donkey used as a pack animal.

16. Michelin product: TIRE. For your car or truck.

17. Competition with runners: MEET.   At the track.

18. It may be bid: ADIEU.  A fond farewell.

19. Target Field MLBer: TWIN.  Will there ever be baseball again?

20. Kind of code: PENAL.  I've seen this in a few puzzles recently.   A code of laws concerning crimes and offenses and their punishment.

22. Tense tennis situation: SET POINT.  Opportunity to win or lose

24. Talons: CLAWS. Bird's feet

27. Leveling wedge: SHIM.  Space filler used to align items, such as cabinets.

28. Rhine whine: ACH.  Clever clue, but I think exclamation would be more accurate than whine.

30. Opinion: VIEW. The way I see it.

32. Mass media magnate: HEARST.  William Randolph [1893 - 1951] was an American publisher and politician.

36. "Harrumph!": BAH. Humbug!

37. Gillette brand: ATRA. Men's facial razor.

38. Showy: ORNATE. Highly decorated.

39. Old Testament prophet: AMOS.  One of the 12 minor prophets. He spoke of justice, economic disparity and divine judgment.

41. Strong aversions: HATES.  Things you can't stand.

43. Clothes closer: SNAP.  Alternative to buttons and zippers.

44. High-ranking angel: SERAPH. A winged celestial beings with a fiery passion for doing God's good work

46. Rebuke from Caesar: ET TU.  And you?  Bummer!

48. Only NFL team without a helmet logo, on scoreboards: CLE.  The Browns.

49. Big shot: HONCHO.  Derived from the Japanese word meaning "leader of the squad," absorbed into English due to the large U.S. military presence in Japan after WWII.

50. Snorkeling site: REEF.  A ridge of jagged rock, coral, or sand just above or below the surface of the sea.

51. Half a bray: HEE.  Other half is HAW

52. Rock's mate?: ROLL.  Type of popular music.

54. Splatter in a puddle: SLOSH.  The sound of a boot stomped in water.

56. Helped remember: REMINDED.

60. Diving action: SWOOP.  Action of a bird with talons.

63. Day when 46-Across was spoken: IDES. Of March

64. Key material: IVORY.  Piano keys.  But not any more.  Today, the keys are made from the same wood at the sound board - usually some variety of spruce, because it is resistant to warping. The keys are then covered with an acrylic coating.

67. Subtle glow: AURA.

68. Essence: GIST.  Core meaning

69. More contemporary: NEWER.  The latest.  Is it the greatest?

70. Bygone despot: TSAR. This is Russian to judgment

71. Night at an inn, e.g.: STAY.  No reason to be HOSTLE

72. Blokes: GENTS. Guys

73. Conducted, as a meeting: HELD. Organized, set the agenda and invited attendees.

Down:

1. Like many a cellar: DAMP.  Containing unwanted moisture.

2. Fancy molding: OGEE.  In the shape of an S curve.

4. Like the most serious error: FATAL.  Ruins the entire project.

5. Lawyer's org.: ABA. American Bar Assn.

6. Wasp nest component: MUD.

7. Pupil's place: IRIS.  The eyes have it.

8. Beech and birch: TREES.

10. Hassock cousins: OTTOMANS. Tuffets.

11. Fuzzy fruit: KIWI.

12. "__ go bragh!": ERIN. Ireland forever.

13. Bad impression: DENT.  As, frex, on your car's fender.

21. Soap brand: LAVA. Contains pumice particles for scouring action.

23. Embarkation location: PIER.  On the waterfront.

26. Antitoxins: SERA. A substance that counteracts a specific toxin.

28. Embarrass: ABASH.

29. Hitchcock film trademark: CAMEO.  A brief, often uncredited and usually silent, appearance by a well known person in a production.

34. Cliched: STALE.  Hackneyed.

35. Home on the range: TEPEE.  Temporary dwelling of Native Americans on the great plains.

40. Room for vestments: SACRISTY.

42. Nice saisons: ETES.   Summers in France.

45. Sound prefix: PHON-.  As in PHONICS or PHONETICS.

47. Alien craft: UFOS.  Fictional interstellar craft.

53. Flood deterrent: LEVEE.  A naturally occurring or artificially constructed ridge along a water course or coast line.

55. Mower's path: SWATH.  The space cut by the motion of a mowing machine.

56. Readies for sailing: RIGS.  Prepares the the system of ropes, cables and chains, which support a sailing ship or sail boat's masts, including shrouds and stays, halyards, braces, sheets and vangs.

57. Cut text, e.g.: EDIT.

58. City near Phoenix: MESA. In AZ.

61. Like some vaccines: ORAL.  As opposed to injected

62. Oater bro: PARD.  Short for Partner.

65. No longer working: Abbr.: RET.  As I have been for 11 1/2 YRS.

66. Mos. and mos.: YRS. Twelve Mos at a time.

That wraps up another Wednesday.  Hope you were able to stay dry.

Cool regards!
JzB